The 5 West Nutrient Removal Plant (5W NRP) represents a transformative upgrade to the Western Treatment Plant and was recognised with the AWA Infrastructure Project Innovation Award (METRO) in 2025. This world-leading innovation will significantly expand the city’s sewage treatment capacity while increasing WTP’s energy generation potential, reducing energy consumption and enhancing water quality.
At the heart of the 5W NRP is one of the world's first full-scale Shortcut Nitrogen Removal via Nitrate Shunt processes. This cutting-edge technology requires less aeration and carbon input than traditional treatment methods, delivering substantial energy savings and marking a major advancement in sustainable wastewater management.
Join us for this online event, where the 5W NRP project team will explore the project’s background, provide an in-depth explanation of the Shortcut Nitrogen Removal process, share key delivery strategies and innovations, and discuss how this milestone project contributes to environmental improvement, sustainability and broader community benefits.
Speakers
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Aprilia Vellacott Aprilia is a Principal Process Engineer with over 20 years experience in the planning, design, commissioning, and optimisation of wastewater treatment plants. Aprilia has led the process design of two recent significant augmentations to Melbourne Water’s Western Treatment Plant with the 160S NRP and 5W NRP. She has specialised experience in advanced biological carbon and nitrogen removal processes, including shortcut nitrogen removal, nitrite shunt, and Anammox/Mainstream Deammonification.
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Josh Kar
Senior Project Manager, Melbourne Water
Josh Kar is a Senior Project Manager at Melbourne Water with a background in Chemical Process Engineering and over 19 years of experience across oil and gas, water and wastewater treatment, and major infrastructure delivery.
Over the years, Josh has held diverse roles including Project Engineer, Process Engineer, and Process Design Engineer, contributing to the design and delivery of major treatment infrastructure.
Since joining Melbourne Water in 2018, he has progressed from Project Engineer to Project Manager and then to Senior Project Manager, leading multidisciplinary projects including the successful delivery of the 5W NRP project.
Josh now serves as Senior Project Manager for the Western Treatment Plant’s Resource Recovery Reuse Complex (RRRC), one of Victoria’s largest water infrastructure projects and a key component of the state’s long‑term sewerage strategy. The RRRC will increase treatment capacity by nearly 50% by 2029, supporting Melbourne’s population growth and helping advance Melbourne Water’s long‑term vision for sustainable and resilient water services.
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Nathali Christy
Process Engineer, Melbourne Water
Nathali Christy is a Process Engineer with nearly a decade of expertise in the water and wastewater treatment sector. Her current focus lies in navigating the complex technical hurdles of retrofitting new treatment facilities into existing infrastructure to meet modern environmental standards. By combining a data-driven analytical approach with hands-on operational experience, Nathali maximises the potential of new assets while ensuring long-term environmental compliance.
Most recently, she played a pivotal role in the commissioning of the 5W Nutrient Removal Plant (NRP) at the Western Treatment Plant, overseeing the critical transition from construction to operation, ensuring the new facility's seamless integration into the site's treatment portfolio. |
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Ajay Sharma
Project Manager, BMD
Ajay Sharma is a Project Manager for BMD with over 15 years’ experience delivering complex water and wastewater infrastructure projects across Australia.
Most recently, Ajay was instrumental in the delivery of the Western Treatment Plant 5 West Nutrient Removal Plant for Melbourne Water. He oversaw multidisciplinary works across structural, mechanical and electrical scopes, and managed commissioning to achieve design intent and performance requirements.
Passionate about the water sector’s innovative nature, biological complexities and sustainability opportunities, Ajay brings expertise across design, construction, commissioning, operations and process optimisation – ensuring reliable, high-performing outcomes for clients and communities.
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| Date | Tuesday 21 April 2026 |
| Time | 12:00pm - 1:30pm AEDT |
| Webinar Link | Register below - webinar link will be sent via email the day prior |
Registration Costs
| Online | |
| Members | $25 |
| Non Members | $35 |
Membership benefits:
If you wish to find out more about AWA's membership benefits, contact membership@awa.asn.au.
For more information please contact:
E: nsharrock@awa.asn.au